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Community turns out to raise money in memory of murdered mom

By Staff | Aug 29, 2010

Friends and family of Kelly Abrams honored her memory while raising money for her children, Jordan and Nathan, during a fund raiser and Jim Jeffers park on Saturday.
Abrams was murdered in March by her then boyfriend, Ricardo Merrero, who turned the gun on himself.
The event, combining vendors, demonstrations, a DJ, a raffle, auction, food, and kids activities, was a way for people who knew Abrams to remember her.
Abrams’ best friend Christina Bergersen, who was present during the time of the murder-suicide, said she really wanted to show Abrams’ children a good time. Bergersen was one of the co-organizers of the event.
“We really wanted to show the kids that something tragic can happen and the community can come together to show support,” she said. “We wanted to honor her memory.”
Bergersen said money raised on Saturday would likely go toward counseling for Abrams’ children, who were also in the house at the time of their mother’s death.
She did not know how much money they raised by the end of the event, but items like dinners at local restaurants, bicycles, and appliances were up for either auction or raffle.
“They (Abrams’ children) are going to need counseling for a very long time,” she added. “But we want to have a fun day … that’s important too.”
Bergersen said “hundreds” of families turned out Saturday. The event, which ran from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., offered a little something for everyone, with a strong emphasis on families and family activities.
Donte Friga, 5, was busy getting his face painted like his favorite superhero, Spiderman.
His mother, Colleen Holliday, did not know the Abrams family, instead just coming out to show her kids a good time.
“A friend told me about it, so I said let’s go, let’s have some fun,” Holliday said.